Differential gate mechanism.



E. F. HURD. DIFFERENTIAL GATE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1910.

1,086,531. Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

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B. P. HURD.

DIFFERENTIAL GATE MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION- FILED MAY19, 1910.

1,086,531 Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD F. HUBD, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO FRANCIS K.FASSET'I, 0F DAYTON, OHIO.

DIFFERENTIAL GATE MECHANISIII.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1t), 1914:.

Application filed May 19, 1910. Serial No. 562,169.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. I'IURD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Minneapolis, in the county of I'IGIIIIBPHI and State ofMinnesota, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements inDiiferential Gate Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to horizontally movable gates wherein the gate iscomposed of two panels which move in the same direc' tion, one twice asfast as the other.

The main object of my invention is to construct a hanger for gates ofthat type which not only affords support for the panels, but containsmechanism whereby the differential movement of the panels is broughtabout.

A further object is to produce a simple, strong and durable hanger; onewhich will operate easily and noiselessly.

Another and very important ob ect is to construct the hanger in suchmanner that certain imperfections of construction which are likely to bepresent will not impair or hinder its operation.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevation with the transombar removed; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan taken on lines 00 a, Fig. 1;Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View, and Fig. i a vertical section takenon line a a Fig. 1.

Similar numerals indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

The numeral 1 indicates the fixed panel of an elevator inclosure, and 2and 3 the slow and fast panels respectively, of the gate. The track a,which is made of two strips separated by an intermediate strip 8, 18secured by bolts 5 to brackets 6. Brackets (3 are in turn supported bythe transom bar 7. Strip 8 being lower than strips 4 affords a groovebetween the latter. in which the central ribs on the wheels 9 run. Theportions of the wheels outside of the ribs roll upon the track fl: andthe wheels are kept in their proper positions by a rectangular framecomposed of strips 16, end pieces 28, and tie bolts 25. These bolts passthrough and clamp the strips 16 firmly against the ends of sleeves 26and are placed at suitable 1ntervals along the frame. Two of the wheels,the first and fourth in Fig. 1, rotate upon bolts 15 that pass throughclose fitting holes in the strips 16. One end of each bolt is smallerthan the other end, the change in diameter forming a shoulder whichabuts the inside of the strip 16 nearest the thread. The threaded end ofeach bolt passes through a vertical slot 18 in a pendent 19, and aflanged plate 20, and receives a nut 17. The panel 2 of the gate isbolted to and carried by the pendents 19. With a set screw 21 in alaterally extending lug on each pendent which rests upon the flange ofthe plate 2-0, the panel 2 may be raised or lowered at will until thenuts 17 are screwed up, after which the adjustment remains permanent.

From the foregoing description it is clear that panel 2 of the gate, andthe rectangular frame as well, are carried by the first and fourth wheel9. The remaining wheels are provided with axles 22, which may be andpreferably are integral with the wheels. (See Fig. 3.) These axlesrotate in vertical slots 27 formed in the strip 16, but touch neitherthe top nor bottom of the slots, the object being to permit each wheelto rest without restraint upon the track. To further facilitate thisthese wheels are made rather short, so as to avoid the possibility ofbinding between the strips 16. (See Fig. 3.) A grooved bar 10 rests upontwo or more wheels, the groove in the bar being somewhat deeper than theheight of the wheel ribs. Pendents 11 secured to this bar or rider 10are bolted to knees 12, which in turn are bolted to and carry panel 3 ofthe gate. Flanged plates 13 are secured to the knees 12 by screws 1 1and, extending under and close to the track, prevent the bar 10 jumpingoff of the wheels. When the panel 3 is moved friction causes the rider10 to rotate the wheels upon which it rests. Since the axles of all butthe first and fourth wheels lie in vertical slots it is obvious that notonly are these wheels perfectly free to rest upon the track but theirsemi-detached relation to the frame permits the first and fourth wheelsto rest upon the track with the full force of the weight sustained bythe pendents 19. It is, therefore, clear that the wheels upon which therider rests rest and bear upon the track with as much force as the riderbears upon the wheels. On this account there is as much friction betweenthe wheels and track as between the wheels and rider, and when thewheels are rotated by the rider they roll along the track, carrying therectangular frame and the panel 2 l i i i l i l i i will have overtakenpanel 2 and will also 5 be behind panel 1.

Ordinarily the gate will be opened and closed by applying the hand tothe panel 3, 5 but it may, if preferred, be operated by moving the panel2. Whichever panel receives the initial power the 'atio of speed will bethe same, panel 3 always moving twice as fast as panel 2. When power isap plied to one panel the other panel is moved by the same force thatcauses a locomotive to move on the track when its wheels are rotated,but in the gate there is a double application of the force. That is, theforce which rotates the wheels is a duplicate of and equal to the forcewhich causes the wheels to move along the track. That the two forces arealways equal is due to the arrangement already described whereby theWheels bear upon the track with a force equal to the weight they carry.Theoretically the track might be perfectly level, all the wheels exactlythe same diameter and arranged in a perfectly straight line on therectangular frame, and the rider perfectly straight. Under theseconditions the mechanism might act properly thou h th wheels werejournaled in round holes '7 stead of ver tical slots. t:

n But in practice 1 i 4 fection is not attainable, 11 i but two wheelsof the train so they can adjust themselves vertically makes itunnecessary.

Various departures may be made from the construction described whileremaining with in the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is as follows: 1. In a difierential gate mechanicombination of a track, a gate comprising a slow and a fast panel, theslow panel being carried by rolling mem s which roll upon the track; awhee res g on the track, rider adapted to res eel an i one or more ofsaid rel rider being connected to and fast panel, and men s connec tothe slow panel, v to roll along the slow panel, said means 7 to movetoward and 2. In a differential i I,

combination of a track. a p urality of w iv to roll thereon, a memberconn cting the wheels together so they must roll in unison 5 and meanswhereby said member is carried 1m the necha by two of the wheels; theremainder of the wheels bein connected to said member by means whichpermits limited movement of the wheels toward and away from the track.

3. In a difierential gate-mechanism, the combination of a track, aplurality of wheels to roll thereon, and a rectangular frame in whichthe wheels are confined, two of the w ieels being connected to the frameby bolts passing through their centers and through holes in the sides ofthe frame, the remainder of the wheels having projecting axles whichrotate in vertical slots in the sides of the frame.

at. In a differential gate mechanism, the combination of a track, aplurality of wheels to roll thereon, and a rectangular frame whereby thewheels are connected in a train, two of the wheels rotating upon axesfixed with reference to the frame, the remainder of the wheels rotatingupon axes capable of movement perpendicular to the track.

5. In a differential gate mechanism, the combination of a track, aplurality of wheels to roll thereon, a rectangular frame whereby thewheels are connected in a train, two of the wheels rotating upon axesfixed with reference to the frame, the remainder of the wheels rotatingupon axes capable of movement perpendicular to the track; means forconnecting the slow panel to said fixed axis, a rider resting upon theperipheries of the wheels, and means for connecting the fast panel tothe rider.

6. In a differential gate mechanism, the combination of a track, a trainof wheels adapted to rest thereon, means for maintaining substantiallyfixed distances between the axes of the wheels, and means whereby allbut two of the wheels are capable of limited movement perpendicular tothe track.

7. In a differential gate mechanism, the combination of a track, aplurality of wheels to roll thereon, a member connecting the wheelstogether so they must roll in unison, means whereby said member iscarried by two of the wheels, the remainder of the wheels beingconnected to said member by means which permits limited movement of thewheels toward and away from the track, means whereby one panel of thegate is connected to and carried by said carrying wheels, a riderresting upon the wheels, and means for connecting the other panel of thegate to the rider.

8. In a differential gate mechanism, the combination of a track, aplurality of wheels to roll thereon, a member connecting the wheelstogether so they must roll in unison, means whereby said member iscarried by two of the wheels, the remainder of the wheels beingconnected to the member by means which permits limited movement of thewheels toward and away from the track, means for attaching the slowpanel of a gate to said carrying wheels, a rider resting upon thewheels, and means for attach ing the fast panel of the gate to therider.

9. In a difie-rential gate mechanism the 5 combination of a slow and afast panel, a

track, a train of three or more Wheels resting and adapted to roll onthe track, means whereby the slow panel is carried by two of the wheels,means supporting the other 1 wheel or wheels to permit a limitedmovement toward and away from the track, a rider adapted to rest andride on two or more of the wheels, and means for attaching the fastpanel to the rider.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 15 in presence of twowitnesses.

EDWARD F. HURD. Witnesses:

ALICE V. SWANSON, HARRY D. KILGORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patent Washington, D. 0.

